The Science of Mind-Body Unity: Why Your Cells are Always Listening to Your Thoughts & How a Legendary Harvard Psychologist is Redefining the Limits of What is Biologically Possible.
Fri Feb 06 2026
What if the things you do every single day are quietly making you sick… and you don’t even realize it?
Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer, author of The Mindful Body, reveals the shocking ways our minds shape our health, aging, stress levels, and even how long we live—often without us noticing.
In this mind-expanding of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. Langer explains why self-agency and making your own decisions can literally extend your lifespan, how expectations and beliefs shape disease progression, and why the real meaning of mindfulness has almost nothing to do with meditation.
Dr. Langer breaks down:
- Small, everyday habits that are secretly harming your health
- Why stress is the #1 cause of illness (and not for the reason you think)
- Whether healing timelines are based on real time or perceived time
- Surprising benefits of positive thinking, even with terminal illness
- Danger of labels, including words like “try” and “remission”
- Why spontaneous remissions exist & why they’re so hard to study
- Simple ways to become more mindful right now, even if you’ve never meditated once in your life
- Can we train ourselves to not need eyeglasses?
- The real power of the placebo effect
- Can the mind cure the common cold?
- Psychological treatments for chronic illness
- Who is more likely to get sick & why
- How color influences our biology more than we think
- Why spirituality requires presence and mindfulness
- How to reframe negative circumstances into positive ones, and the health benefits of doing so
- How her mother’s battle with cancer inspired her groundbreaking research
This episode will change how you think about healing, stress, aging, illness, and the true power of your mind over your body!
You may never see health, sickness, or “reality” the same way again.
Head to https://impact.ourritual.com/c/4792730/2005678/24744 , take a quick quiz, and use code BREAKER20 for 20% off your first month.
If you’re tired of being tired, this is your chance to finally get answers and get your energy back. Go to https://superpower.com/ and use code BREAK for $20 off your membership this year.
Dr. Ellen Langer’s latest book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705365/the-mindful-body-by-ellen-j-langer/9780593497944/
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What if the things you do every single day are quietly making you sick… and you don’t even realize it? Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer, author of The Mindful Body, reveals the shocking ways our minds shape our health, aging, stress levels, and even how long we live—often without us noticing. In this mind-expanding of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. Langer explains why self-agency and making your own decisions can literally extend your lifespan, how expectations and beliefs shape disease progression, and why the real meaning of mindfulness has almost nothing to do with meditation. Dr. Langer breaks down: - Small, everyday habits that are secretly harming your health - Why stress is the #1 cause of illness (and not for the reason you think) - Whether healing timelines are based on real time or perceived time - Surprising benefits of positive thinking, even with terminal illness - Danger of labels, including words like “try” and “remission” - Why spontaneous remissions exist & why they’re so hard to study - Simple ways to become more mindful right now, even if you’ve never meditated once in your life - Can we train ourselves to not need eyeglasses? - The real power of the placebo effect - Can the mind cure the common cold? - Psychological treatments for chronic illness - Who is more likely to get sick & why - How color influences our biology more than we think - Why spirituality requires presence and mindfulness - How to reframe negative circumstances into positive ones, and the health benefits of doing so - How her mother’s battle with cancer inspired her groundbreaking research This episode will change how you think about healing, stress, aging, illness, and the true power of your mind over your body! You may never see health, sickness, or “reality” the same way again. Head to https://impact.ourritual.com/c/4792730/2005678/24744 , take a quick quiz, and use code BREAKER20 for 20% off your first month. If you’re tired of being tired, this is your chance to finally get answers and get your energy back. Go to https://superpower.com/ and use code BREAK for $20 off your membership this year. Dr. Ellen Langer’s latest book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705365/the-mindful-body-by-ellen-j-langer/9780593497944/ Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices